Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning back-to-back NBA MVP and is preparing for a pivotal Game 7 on Saturday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder look to reach the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season.
However, despite his calm demeanor, Gilgeous-Alexander remains one of the league’s most scrutinized stars because of his ability to draw fouls, sell contact, and earn trips to the free-throw line — something many great players throughout NBA history have also mastered.
As Oklahoma City continues to win, the criticism has only intensified, particularly during the Thunder’s Western Conference Finals matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.
Four-time NBA champion Draymond Green, however, came to SGA’s defense during a recent episode of “The Draymond Green Show.”
“Shai, you’ve reached a new level of greatness my man … you got sports media coming out and talking about what they don’t like about your greatness, as if SGA is running up and down the court with the whistle in his mouth calling a foul for himself,” Green said. “Y’all think the NBA is that easy to where this guy just flops and goes to the free throw line and he becomes the back-to-back MVP? We really gonna dumb the NBA down to that?”
More news: Sabrina Ionescu to Make Liberty Season Debut vs Wings
More news:
SGA has attempted six or more free throws in all but one of the six games against the San Antonio Spurs, including games in which he attempted 12 and 17 shots from the charity stripe.
That said, free throws or not, he has proven to be one of the most efficient and productive players in basketball over the past two seasons.
He has now recorded four consecutive seasons averaging more than 30 points per game and shot 55.3% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range this season.
More news: Jazz Could Nab Perfect Keyonte George Complement in NBA Draft
Read the full article here
